Polisario Front Refuses to Join Negotiations

The Sahrawi independence movement says it is ready to take part constructively in the peace process, but not under any conditions that legitimize Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara or strip the Sahrawi people of their right to self‑determination.

The Polisario Front responded to the United Nations’ stance, which on Friday endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara as “potentially the most viable solution” to the conflict. The Front announced it will not take part in any negotiations based on “proposals” that “legitimize” the “Moroccan occupation” of Western Sahara and “deprive” the people of their right to self‑determination.

“Unilateral approaches that sacrifice the rule of law, justice and peace for short‑term political interests will only exacerbate the conflict,” the Sahrawi independence movement said in a statement.

The movement emphasized that it is prepared to engage constructively in the UN‑led peace process, while warning that “unilateral positions that aim to sacrifice the rule of law, justice and peace for short‑term political gains will only worsen the conflict and jeopardize peace, security, and stability throughout the region,” the statement, obtained by the Sahrawi news agency SPS, added.

The Polisario also recalled the demonstrations held this week—during the resolution’s negotiation—by Sahrawis demanding a referendum on self‑determination, an issue the Front describes as “non‑negotiable.”